Locomotive smoke-stack



Patented Nov; 1 6, 1897 THE "cams was co. mum-(mm. wumumu. u. c.

PATENT al -Enron.

ROBERT FORSYTH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

LOCOMOTIVE SMOKE-STACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 598,572, dated November 16, 1897.

Application filed October 19, 1896, Serial No. 609,271- (No model.) I

To (LZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT FoRsYTH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locomotive Smoke-Stacks, which are fully set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawin gs,forming a part thereof.

The purpose of this invention is to provide an improved device in a locomotive smokestack for deflecting the solid matter of the smoke and preventing its discharge in dangerous sparks or unpleasant cinder-dust. Many devices heretofore constructed for such purposes have taken advantage of the principle that if a current of steam, gas, or air carrying solid particles is deflected the solid particles, by their greater momentum, are thrown off at a tangent and thereby separated from the gases. In applying this principle in locomotive smoke-stacks, however, the back pressure produced by interposing deflecting devices in the column of exhaust steam and smoke tends greatly to impair the eiflciency of the locomotive, either by seriously impairing the draft, making it impossible to produce a good fire, or by putting so much back pressure on the exhaust-nozzle, and thence upon the cylinders, as to require largely increased power to produce the cleflection,while at the same time doing the ordinary work of the locomotive. A further difficulty encountered in applying this deflective principle is that the exhaust-steam deflected for the purpose stated is thrown against the outer walls of the smoke-stack and condensed, thereby moistening the soot and other solid matter deflected and deposited, causing it to adhere in the dischargepassages and tending to clog the same, and also when the condensation is not sufficient to produce water of condensation it is sufficient to make the steam wet and cause the smoke to be discharged in a black mass full of sooty particles, whereas before or without condensation of the steam in this manner it would often pass off nearly colorless, and at least would rise so high above the stack before becoming so far condensed as to deposit the soot that the deposit would be widely distributed instead of being delivered largely over the train over which the black smoke I trails from the stack. I aim to overcome this difficulty by taking advantage of the further fact, demonstrated by investigation and experiment, that the steam discharged from the exhaust-nozzle into the stack-barrel for the purpose of producing a draftby drawing the smoke and gases from the smoke-box into the stack continues to occupy the center of the stack-barrel almost to the very top of p the stack and does not mix with the smoke to any considerable extentfor the greater portion of the distance. In view of this fact the greater portion of the exhaust-steam can be allowed to pass out at the center of a deflecting device which shall deflect, therefore, only the outer annular portion of the column of steam and gases, and the exhauststeam thus being permitted free escape past the deflector becomes useful as a draft-producing agent where it passes through the discharge-mouth of the stack, thus pulling the smoke after it beyond the deflector, the deflector serving the purpose of throwing out the solid matter.

My invention therefore consists in' the employment, in connection with the smoke-stack barrel, of an inverted annular conical deflector overhanging the outer portion of the barrel, but open at the center to permit the central body of exhaust-steam to pass out without deflection.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section of a locomotive smoke-stack havingmy improvements. Fig. 2 is a section at the line 2 2 on Fig. l,

A is the uptake pipe or barrel of the stack.

substantially in the plane of the outer margin of the deflector and tapering, preferably in flowing curves, both Ways from that plane, the upper portion F constituting .the discharge-mouth of the stack above the deflector and the lower portion F extending down about the barrel, which it joins at a considerable distance below the top of the latter, thus forming an inverted annular conical pocket around the upper portion of the barrel, such pocket being adapted to receive the solid matter deflected and thrown out of the smoke column, a pipe F being provided to conduct the solid matter from such pocket to any suitable receptacle or point of discharge. I prefer to have the upper mouth of the stack large enough to permit the deflector to be inserted and withdrawn through the same, and the deflector may be suspended from the upper margin of said discharge-mouth, as by the suspending-bars H H H, which may be secured in any suitable manner, so that the location vertically of the deflector may be varied somewhat at will, as will be found useful in adapting it to different conditions in order to produce the best draft.

The proportion of the entire column comprising exhaust-steam and smoke emerging from the barrel, which may be prudently cut out at the center and discharged directly through the central opening of the deflector, may vary according to the density of the exhaust-steam, which will vary according to the length of the cut-01f, and in order to readily adapt the stack to such Varying conditions and get the maximum results in all respects under all conditions I provide bushing-rings L L L, adapted to be inserted one within the other in the central aperture of the deflector to reduce the same more or less, as desired. These rings at their lower margin are outwardly beveled to correspond to and produce continuation of the curved form of the deflecting-surface of the deflector, and at their upper ends they have each outwardly-extending flanges Z Z Z l, by which they are supported, the outer one upon the outer end of the deflector proper and successive inner bearings each upon the next outer bushing.

F is a cinder-discharge pipe leading from the lower end of the pocket formed by the shell F around the uptake-pipe.

K is a vent-pipe for the steam and gases which may be carried down into the pocket and which are preferably allowed to escape in this manner rather than to be forced with the cinders into the receptacle which may be provided for the latter.

I claim-- 1. In a locomotive smoke-stack, in combination with the smoke-box; the uptake pipe cending column in the uptake-pipe obtains unobstructed and direct exit without deflection through the center of the deflector, and simultaneously the outer annular portion of said column, which in its ascent encounters the deflector, is deflected to precipitate solid matter therefrom outside the uptake-pipe.

2. In a locomotive smoke-stack, in combination with the smoke-box, the uptake pipe or barrel leading therefrom, and the steamnozzle discharging into the same under the lower open end thereof; a conical deflector which overhangs the margin of the uptakepipe and has a large central unobstructed opening through it and its outer marginal portion downwardly concave; an expanded head joined to the uptake-pipe below its upper end, and inclosing apocket around the upper portion of the uptake-pipe and an annular space around the margin of the deflector, and a discharge-pipe leading from the pocket,whereby, simultaneously, the central steam-core of the ascending column in the uptake-pipe obtains direct unobstructed egress without deflection through the deflector, and the outer annular smoke-containing portion of said column is I deflected to precipitate solid matter therefrom outside the uptake-pipe, and such precipitated matter is conducted off by the dis-. charge-pipe from the pocket.

3. In a locomotive smoke-stack, in combination with the uptake pipe or barrel and an expanded discharge-head within which said uptake-pipe discharges; an annular conical deflector within the expanded head concentric with the uptake-pipe and having a central aperture for the escape without deflec tion of the core of the ascending column in the uptake-pipe; removable annular bushings in said central opening in the same deflector, whereby the diameter of said opening may be varied step by step at will.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two witnesses, at Chicago, Illinois, this 15th day of October, 1896.

ROBERT FORSYTH.

Vitnesses:

E. T. WVRAY, J EAN ELLIOTT. 

